Rory

History

An early use of the name in antiquity is in reference to Rudraige mac Sithrigi, a High King of Ireland who eventually spawned the Ulaid (indeed, this tribe are sometimes known as Clanna Rudhraighe). Ruadrí mac Domnall was the grandfather of famous Scottish king Macbeth and the eponymous founder of Clann Ruaidrí (House of Moray). Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was in use by various kings, such as Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin, Ruaidrí na Saide Buide and Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland. As well as this, Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha, the famous King of Laois, and his nephew Ruairí Ó Mórdha, who was a leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, held the name, and Ruaidrí Ó Domhnaill, King of Tyrconnell of the O'Donnell dynasty who was deeply involved in the saga known as the Flight of the Earls.

Rory has seen increasing use in females since the early 2000s, especially in the United States, where it became among the top 1000 female baby names in 2003. As of 2022, Rory ranked 280th in popularity for males and 335th for females in the US. A similar trend can be observed in Canada, where the name has seen increasing use in females since 2001 and especially 2015.

Rory can alternatively be a nickname for "Aurora", “Gloria”, or "Lorelai".

Variations

The standard Scottish Gaelic pronunciation is /ˈruə̯.rʲɪ/, and in Munster Irish /rəiˈrʲiː/. In English, it is typically pronounced as English: (ROR-ee). In Classical Gaelic, the name was written Ruaidhrigh, and in Old Irish Ruaidríg /ruaðʲr͈ʲiːʝʲ/ (Proto Celtic *roudo-riks). There are numerous other recorded variations of the name such as Ruaidrí, Ruaidhrí, Ruairdhrí, Rhuairidh, Ruaridh, Rhuari, Rhuaridh, Ruarídh, Ruarí, Roighrí, Rauridh or Raighrí. Historically, it has also been anglicised by replacement with the Germanic names Roderick and Roger, particularly the former.

Men

Ruaidrí

Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785), King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin

Ruaidrí ua Canannáin (died 950), king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources High King of Ireland

Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (died 1118), called Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (Ruaidrí of the Yellow Birch), King of Connacht

Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, 12th century King of Connacht and the last High King of Ireland

Ruaidri mac Cathal Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht in Ireland

Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, died 1384

Ruaidri Caech mac Diarmata (1404–1421), see Kings of Magh Luirg

Ruaidri Óg mac Diarmata (1478–1486), see Kings of Magh Luirg

Ruaidri mac Diarmata (1549–1568), see Kings of Magh Luirg

Ruaidrí Ó Domhnaill (1575–1608), King and Earl of Tyrconnell

Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra (died 1256), Irish king

Ruaidri Ó Cellaigh (died 1339), Irish king

Ruaidrí Ó Curnín (died 1496), Irish poet

Ruaidhrí

Ruaidhri Ó Cianáin (died 1387), Irish historian

Rúaidhrí Conroy (born 1979), Irish actor

Ruaidhrí mac Coscraigh (fl. 990s), Irish king

Rúaidhrí de Valera (1916–1978), Irish archaeologist

Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda (fl. 1380), Irish king

Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh (1629–1716/18), Irish historian

Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh (fl. 1200s), Irish king

Rúaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1061), Irish king

Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1145), Irish king

Ruaidhrí Gilla Dubh Ó Seachnasaigh (died 1569), Irish knight

Ruaidhrí Higgins (born 1984), manager of Derry City F.C. in the League of Ireland

Ruaidhri Mac Aedha (died 1170), Irish lord

Ruaidhrí mac Raghnaill (died 1247?), Hebridean magnate

Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí (died 1318?), Scottish magnate

Ruaidhrí Mear Ua Dubhda (fl. 1100s), Irish king

Ruaidhrí Murphy (born 1987), Irish rugby union footballer

Ruaidhri Roberts (1917–1986), Irish trade union leader

Ruaidhri Smith (born 1994), Scottish cricketer

Ruadhri

Ruadhri of Bute (fl. 13th century), Scottish noble

Ruadhri Ua Flaithbertaigh (fl. late 12th century), Irish king

Ruari

Ruari Crichard (born 1995), English cricketer

Ruari MacLennan (born 1988), Scottish footballer

Ruari McLean (1917–2006), British typographic designer

Ruari Paton (born 2000), Irish footballer

Ruairí

Bantum (real name Ruairí Lynch; born 1983), Irish multi-instrumentalist, musician, DJ, producer and composer

Ruairí Mac Easmainn (1864–1916), Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalist

Ruairí Brugha (1917–2006), Irish politician

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (1932–2013), Irish Republican Army member

Ruairí Canavan (born 2003), Gaelic footballer

Ruairi O'Connor (born 1991), Irish actor

Ruairí Convery (born 1984), Northern Irish hurler

Ruairí Deane (born 1991), Irish Gaelic footballer

Ruairí Ó Gadhra (died 1206), Irish king

Ruairi Glynn, installation artist

Ruairí Harkin (born 1989), Irish footballer

Ruairí Keating (born 1995), Irish footballer

Ruairi McGoff (born 1985), English-Canadian rugby league footballer

Ruairí McKiernan, Irish author and social entrepreneur

Ruairí Ó Murchú (born 1978), Irish politician

Ruairi Quinn (born 1946), Irish politician

Ruairi O'Rahilly, Gaelic footballer

Ruairí Robinson (born 1978), Irish film director and writer

Ruaraidh

Ruaraidh Erskine (1869–1960), Scottish nationalist

Ruaraidh Murray (born 1975), Scottish actor, writer and comedian

Ruairidh

Ruairidh Campbell (born 1998), Scottish rugby union referee

Ruairidh Greenwood (born 1992), Scottish curler

Ruairidh MacIlleathain, Scottish Gaelic broadcaster

Ruaridh

Ruaridh Arrow (born 1980), British film-maker

Ruaridh Jackson (born 1988), Scottish rugby union player

Ruaridh Langan (born 1998), Scottish footballer

Ruaridh MacKenzie (born 1994), Scottish rugby union player

Ruaridh McConnochie (born 1991), English rugby union player

Ruaridh Mollica, Scottish-Italian actor

Rory

Rory Anderson (born 1992), American football player

Rory Barnes (born 1946), Australian writer

Rory Best (born 1982), Irish rugby union footballer

Rory Boulding (born 1988), English footballer

Rory Brady (1957–2010), Irish lawyer

Rory Bremner (born 1961), Scottish comedian

Rory Brennan (poet) (born 1945), Irish poet

Rory Brien (born 1991), rugby league footballer

Rory Burns (born 1990), English cricketer

Rory Byrne (born 1944), South African racing car designer

Rory Calhoun (1922–1999), American actor

Rory Carroll (born 1972), Irish journalist

Rory Cellan-Jones (born 1958), British journalist

Rory Cochrane (born 1972), American actor

Rory Collins (born 1955), epidemiologist

Rory Enrique Conde (born 1965), Colombian serial killer

Rory Culkin (born 1989), American actor

Rory Delap (born 1976), Irish football player

Rory Dodd, Canadian rock vocalist

Rorie

Rorie Henderson (born 1959), British rower

Women

Rory Block (born 1949), American blues guitarist and singer

Rory Bosio (born 1984), American ultramarathon runner

Rory Flack (born 1971), American figure skater

Rory Guilday (born 2002), American ice hockey player

Rory Kennedy (born 1968), American filmmaker

Rory Martinez, Mexican-American director

Rory Owen (born 2003), Australian professional rugby league footballer

Rory Power, American author

Rory Quintos (born 1962), Filipino television and film director

Rory Uphold, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and actress

Fictional characters

Male characters

Brother Rua in the film Pilgrimage

Rory in the Australian children's television series Little Lunch

Rory in the book series The Hunger Games

Rory in the film/television series My Babysitter's a Vampire

Rory Adams in the movie Life

Rory Breaker in the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Rory Campbell in the Marvel Comics Universe

Roary in the television show Roary the Racing Car

Ruairí Donovan in the British radio soap opera The Archers

Ruairi, a central character in the MMORPG Mabinogi, appearing in the introductory storyline and several others subsequently.

Rory Finnigan in the television series Hollyoaks

Rory Flanagan in the television series Glee

Rory Hennessy in the television series 8 Simple Rules

Rory Jansen in the movie The Words

Rory Murdoch in the television series River City

Rory O'Shea in the movie Inside I'm Dancing

Rory Peters in the movie Final Destination 2

Rory Regan, Ragman in the DC Comics Universe

Female characters

Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore in the television series Gilmore Girls.

Rory Mercury in the anime and light novel series Gate.

Aurora "Rory" Morningstar, from the series "Lucifer".

Rory Thayer, In the film "Accepted".